Water Works invites a select group of contemporary artists - Doug Fogelson, Jenny Kendler, Meg Leary, Aspen Mays, Linda Tegg, and Alex Wieder - to create ephemeral interventions at EXPO CHICAGO using water as their only resource. The series revolves around Water Light Graffiti, a digital surface that illuminates when touched by water. Created by Paris-based artist Antonin Fourneau, Water Light Graffiti merges the immediacy of street-art with the sophistication of digital technology and the movement of the cinematic screen.

Participating artists will use the surface of Water Light Graffiti as inspiration to showcase their unique perspectives. The resulting Water Works will trigger creative dialogue and encourage viewers to reflect upon the importance of art, technology, and the natural world in contemporary culture.

Curated by Giovanni Aloi and Elizabeth Corr, this special series is sponsored by the Water Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), an international nonprofit environmental organization committed to raising awareness about the environment through robust interdisciplinary partnerships.

Doug Fogelson and Alex Weider "Set My Bow"

The rainbow is a much-loved symbol among many cultures. It is a meteorological phenomenon of light refracting/reflecting through water droplets in a spectrum of colors made visible to the naked eye. Fogelson and Wieder reference the rainbow arc and its relationships from the current anthropogenic era of "peak water." Working with the water activated LED lights created by Fourneau, the artists use stencils and gels to create patterns that foster consideration of the ephemeral.